Ley executors of said william b



w. B. ARNOLD AND A. e. FRYE.

A. L. ARNOLD M40 1. 8. STUDLEY, EXECUI'OBS of W. B. ARNOLD, DEC'D.

. Patented 00h 2,1919.

2 MEETS-4"? I.

nun mmmum' 20., WASHINGTON. m c.

'W. B. ARNOLD AND A. G. FRYE. A. I.- ARNOLD AND 1. a. srumzv. zxicurons or w. a. mmow. o'ic'o.

WELT SLITHNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION man No.10. m1.

1,31,341. Patented octwlg. [I ZSHEF'lS-STEETL Jim/endear.-

WILLIAM B. ARNOLD AND AETH Ee. FRYE, oE-NoETH ABINeToN, MASSACHUSETTS,

ASSIGNORS To SA D I IAM 5B. AENoLD; A B E AENoL-D AND J. BUTLER STUD- LEY EXEoUToE's-oFSAID WILLIAM B. ARNOLD, DEECASED.

WELT- LITTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Oct. '7, 1919.

' Applioati-onfiled December 10, 1917. Serial No. 206,365.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIA B. ARNOLD and ARTHUR G. FRYE, citizens of theUnited States, and residents of-North Abington, county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Welt-slitting Machines, of which the following description, in connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention hereinafter described relates to slitting machines and more particularly to machines for slitting a sheet of leather into strips to produce welts vforiboots and shoes.

To efiiciently slit thesheet so as to produce strips of uniform width is a difficult operation owing to the toughness of the leather, the tendency of the leather to pucker, and the friction of the leather on the sides of the cutters as they wedge into the leather. Where large rotary disk cutters are used, their body portions have been of substantial thickness to furnish the requisite strength, and their active peripheral cutting portions have been tapered so that on entering the leather they wedge into the same and squeeze or compress the-leather between the cutters, thereby causing so much friction betwen the cutters and leather that the latter is bulged and distorted. This effect is increasedby the rotating cutters which .grip and pull the leather, and since the friction on some of the cutters will at times be greater than the friction on others, the pull on some portions of the leather is greater than on others. As a consequence, the leather is fed irregularly and poor work is produced.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a machine having strong and simple cutters constructed and arranged to efliciently'cut the leather into strips with out the objections referred to.

Another object is to provide improved feeding means for the leather which will grip the full width of the leather and uniformly pull the same past the cutters to slit the leather.

Another object is to provide means for so guiding the leather that the slits will be made parallel to one edge of the sheet of leather and produce strips of uniform width throughout.

And-still another object of the invention is to provide means for holding the leather in fiat condition as it is fed to the cutters.

The character of the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description of one good form thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the slit-- ting machine shown herein as embodying the invention Fig. '2 is a plan view showing guiding devices for the sheet ofleatherj- Fig. 8 is 'a sec tional detail taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. at is a vertical section showing guiding devices for the leather, the series of slitting blades, and the grooved roller be neath the blades, and receiving the ends thereof which project beneath the leather;

Fig. 5 is' a vertical section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a plan of a spring-pressed guide for one edge of the leather.

Referring to the drawings, the machine shown therein as an exemplification of the invention comprises a bed plate 1 having suitable means thereon f-orfeedinga sheet of leather 3 over the upper surface thereof. In the present instance of the invention, this means comprises a pair of upperand lower feed rolls 5931'1Cl 7 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) having fine corrugations extending longitudinally thereof, adapted to grip and positively feed the leather throughoutthe entire width thereof. The lowerroll is mount ed on' a-shaft 9 journ-aled in bearings in the frame 11 beneath the bed plate, and the upper roll is mounted on a shaft 13 j ournaled in hearings in boxes 15 movable vertically in guideways in standards 17 mounted on the bed plate, and having their upper ends connected by horizontal bars 19. The rolls are driven by intermeshing gears 22 fast on their shafts, one of the latter being driven by a pulley 22. The upper roll is pressed downward toward the lower roll by helical springs 21 confined between the boxes and followers 23 which may be adjusted to vary the tension of the springs by screws 25 threaded in the upper ends of the standards V the machine.

Toslit the sheet of-leather into strips 33 as it is fed through the machine, a series of slitting cutters may be provided, in the pres ent instance of the invention, in the form of blades 35 (Figs. 4 ad 5) having sharp ends 37 to project into the leather and sharp side edges 39 to slit theleather. The active cutting-portions of the blades are so thinthat they do not materially wedge into the leather and produce objectionable friction between the leather and blades. Suitable means may be provided to furnish adequate support for the shanks of the blades, preferably, up to a point adjacent to the active cutting ends of the blades. This' sup port, in the present instance, is in the form of 'a carrier or bar 41 having a series'of grooves 42 therein for receiving the shanks of the blades, said shanks being held in'said bar by wedge pins 43 and washers 45 held in tight engagement with edges of said shanks by screws 47 threaded into said bar, a single washer and screw being desirably located between and serving to secure a pair of blades'to said bar. In the presentform of the invention, the blades are arranged obliquely to the plane of the leather, in order to produce welt strips having opposed beveled edges, as disclosedi-n U. S. Letters Patent, No. 1,122,845, granted to me, Becember 29, 1914. n V

To facilitate the introduction'of succes sive sheets of leather into the machine, the carri'erfor the blades may be mounted to move toward and from the bed plate. To accomplish this, in the present instanceya frame 49 (Fig. 1 may be provided having ends secured to the opposite ends of the car.- rier bar,'and' hinge bosses 51 adapted vto rock and slide-axiallyon pins 53 carried by brackets 55 mounted on the bed plate.

Suitable means may be provided to press and maintain the blades down into the leather,'in the present instance, in the form of a; cam 57 (Fig. 1) fast on one end of. a shaft 59 journaledin bearings in'the horizontal bars 19, referred to, connecting the standards, the opposite end of said shaft having a handle 61 fast thereon. Rocking movement of the handle in opposite directions may be limited by a pin 63' on thehandle adapted to engage one of the horizontal bars 19. The cam 57 engages the upper surface of a presser bar 65 having ends mounted to slide on studs 67 secured to and projecting upwardly from the blade carrier bar 41, referred to. Helical springs-69 encircle said studs and are confined between said presser bar and blade carrier bar. Upward movement of, the presser bar may be limited by cotter pins 71 in the upper ends of said studs. The construction is such, that when the handle 61 is rocked in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1), it will cause the cam 57 to thrust the :presser bar 65 downward and the latter through the springs 69 will yieldingly press the blade carrier bar downward. lVhen the handlezis rocked in a contraclockwise direction, it will release the pressure on the blade carrier bar. The cam shaft 59 may be sufiiciently long to allow axial movement thereof for drawing the cam 57 inward toward the horizontal bars 19 to aposition where it will disengage the presser bar 65, and not interfere wlth the rocklng of the blade carrier and its frame upward away from the bed plate.

Then a sheet of leather to be slitted into 7 strips is'introduced into the machine, the

blade carrier is rocked downward to bring.

the sharpends of the blades into engagementwith the leather. The pressure on I thecarrier produced by rocking the handle 61 as described, forces the sharp ends of the blades down into the leather, and since tlieblades are oblique to the plane of the leather, as they-are forced therein, they will more laterally somewhattoward the left of pin 75 on a bra'c'ket 77 secured to the bed plate. Oneend of thistrigger has a notch carrier in i r or shoulder79 to engage the'right edge of 7 the frame 49, and" the other end of the trigger is connected by a coil spring 81 with the bracket on the bed plate, the rocking movement of the trigger by the-spring b'einglin'iited by a stop 83 on thebracket- The construction is such, that the spring will automatically rock the latch into position to lock the frame against'n'i'ovement toward the right of Fig. 1, when said frame has been rocked downward to cause the slitting blades to penetrate intothe leather the extent required. When it is desired to rock the carrier and frame upward, the trigger may be manually adjusted out of engagement with the edge of the frame 49.

Suitable guiding means may be provided for the edges of the leather to insure the production of slits parallel with one edge of the leather. To accomplish this, in the present eiteinplification of the invention, a guide 85 (Figs. 1., 2, and 4} may be pre vided fast on a slide 87 mounted in'a roove.

39 inthe bed plate, and adapted to be adusted by a screw 91 threaded in a bracket 93 mounted on the bed plate, andihavingone rotation of the screw will shift the slide in 1ts groove to locate .theguide 85 in' theposition desired. To secure the slideinits differentpositions of adjustment, a locking. screw 99 maybe provided having an'end 1.01 projecting through an elongated slot 103 in said? slide and tapped. insaid bed plate, and. a flange 105 adapted to engage the upper surface ofithev slide adjacent the slot. Adjustment: of the screwis-facilitated by a handle 107. When the slidehasbeen; set in the position desired, the handle is turned, thereby tightening.- the screw and pressing the slide firmly into the bottom of its groove.

The edge of the leather should always pass a predetermined distance from the slitting blade nearest said edge. To insure this relation between said edge and blade in the present instance, a guide roller 109 may be provided having a portion 111 to engage the edge of the. leather, and a flange 113 to overlie the margin. ofthe. leather adjacent said edge. This guide roller may be pivotally mounted on a: pin 115secured to the slide 87. The location of the roller is such, that it actively engages the edge of the leather in line with the' slitting blades and at a point offset: somewhat to the-right of. the active edge. of'the guide85, as Will be noted in Fig. 2. As a consequence, as;

the edge of the leatherisfed'from the guide 85 to the roller, it will be deflected slightly to the right and will always be pressed firmly against the roller, thereby insuring the formation of the slit parallelwith: and

at a predetermined distance from the edge of the leather. I

To thrust the leather toward the left of Fig. 2 and press the same'against the guide 85 and roller-109, suitable guiding means is provided for the opposite edge of-the leather,

in the present instance, in the form of a plate 117 (Figs. 1, 2 and6) mounted-on the bed plate andguided by screws 119 projecting through slots 121 insaid plateand threadedinto the bed plate.- The guide plate 117 has an active guiding edge 1'23 and a member 125 adapted to overlap the margin of the leather adj acent' its edge. To press the guide plate 117: toward the left, a rod 127 may have a downwardly bent end connected to a nub 129 extruded .from. the

plate, said rod projecting'through a hollow screw 131 (Fig. 6) threaded in a bracket 133 mounted onthe bed plate; The-screwhas a head 135" and therod 'has hand1e'137 for adjusting the same. A coil spring 139-is confined between one end of the screw 131, and a collar 141 fast on the rod, and tends to shift the rod and the guide plate to the left. Thescrew 131 may be adjusted in its bracket to vary the tension of' the spring as required. The construction described is such, that the guide plate 117 is pressed toward the' left and engages one edge of the leather sheet and insures engagement of the opposite edge thereof with the guide 85 and roller 109. Preferably, the spring-pressed rod 127 is connected to the guide plate 117 at a point adjacent the edge of said plate which is nearest the slitting blades, and al most in line with the guide roller109. As a consequence, the pressure on the guide plate 117 occurs principally adjacent the end thereof nearest the slitting blades, and insures a direct pressure of the leather against the roller in line with the cutting blades. When it is desired to introduce a leather sheet into the machine,'the rod handle 137 isgrasped and pulled outward against the resistance of the spring 139, thereby-allowing sufficient room'between the guides forthe opposite edges of the leather to permit introduction of the latter between them.

The sheet of leather fed toward the slit-" ting blades should be held downflat against the bed plate so as to prevent buckling there, of when pressed between the edge. guides therefor. F orthis purpose a presser. plate 143 (Figs. 1 and 2) may be provided con' nected by hinges 1 15 with a bar 14.7 mounted on the bed plate and adjustably connected theretoby a screw 149 entered through an elongated slot 151 in said bar. The construction is such, that the resser plate may be rocked upward to facilitate introduction of the leather sheet into the machine,.as required.

To force said presser plate down onto the leather sheet, a lever 153 (Fig. 1) may be provided, having a foot 155' with a toe 157 and a heel in'the form of a screw 159 adaptscrew 162 with an arm 163, a spring 165 be ing confined between said lever and arm. The arm 163 is mounted fast on a stud shaft 167 journaled in a bearing in the bracket 161, a handle 171 being secured to said shaft.- To lock this handle in different positions of adjustment, it has a dog 17 3thereon. adapted to engage a toothed sector 175 on the upper end of the bracket. The construction is such, that the handle may be rocked to the right and press the arm 163 upward, thereby compressing the spring 165 and rockingthe lever""153' soas to' press its footv 155 down toward the presser plate and maintain the pressure'on the latter required. p I

I Suitable means is provided to support the leather directly beneath the slitting blades, in the present instance,-in'th'e"form of a roller 17 7 (Figs. 4 and 5) of wood or other suitable materialmount'ed' on a shaft 179 journaled in bearings in the frame 11,-and

' having a series of circumferential grooves the wooden roller 177, and the leading end of the sheet is introduced between the feed rolls 5 'and 7. Then the slitting blade carrier is rocked" down to present the ends of the blades ,to'the leather, and they areforced therein by adjustment of the cam 57 As the blades pass. through the leather, they will shift laterally somewhat to the left, and the latch 73'will automatically snap into place to'hold the frame for the carrier in position.

' The handle 137 is released, thereby allowing the spring 139 to press the sheet of leather firmly against the guide 85 and the guide roller. The handle 171 is rocked to the right of Fig. 1 to produce the pressure on the plate 143 required, and the leatheris fed through i the machine, the feed rolls serving to-pull the sheet of leather past and between the slitting blade and causing the active cutting edges 39 of said blades to cut the sheet of leather into strips with smooth, clean cut edges and of uniform width throughout,

The cutters shown have been'selectedasf one good; means for carrying the invention into practical effect, but other cutters may be used within the invention.

It will be understood that-the inventionis not limited to the specific embodiment shown, but that various deviations may be" made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope'of'the appended claims.

- Claims r V 1; A slittingmachine", comprising in coma bination, opposed; rolls for feeding material between them, a plurality of blades offset to the rear of said rolls for slitting saidemate- 'rialinto. separate strips as it is pulled past said blades by said rolls, means to hold said blades in fixed positions, and means to guide the material as it is fed past said blades.

7 2. slitting machine, comprising, iii-coinbination, gpposed rails for feed ng material bst'weas' tlism,a plsrai ty st blades .efisat tothe'rear of rolls for slitting said niaterial'into separate strips asit is pulled past said blades by said rolls, a uide member'for the materialopposed to'said blades andhav ing grooves for receiving the ends of the blades project-ing through the material, said material,"and means to fixed posltlons.

3. A slitting machine,-comprising in comblades having'sharpedges-for slitting the i hold said; blades in V bination, opposed rolls for feeding material between them, a p'lurality of blades oflt'se't to the rear of said rolls for slitting said mate-' rial into separate strips as it is pulled past said blades by said rolls, a guideroll opposed to said blades and having circumferential grooves Y for receiving the ends'of said blades, the latter having sharp edges for slitting-the material, and means to'hold said blades-in-fixed positions.

4." A slitting machine, comprlsing in com bination, a plurality-of oblique blades for; slitting said material into separate strips having" beveled vedges, means to hold' said blades inf fixed oblique positions, op-posed rolls in advance ofsaid bl'ades forpulling "the material past said blades,"and means to' guide the material asjit is ad by J said rolls; 5. A slitting'machine,comprising 111 00111 bination, a support, means to feedmaterial along said support, a carrier, a. plurality of blades held by said carrier oblique to the plane of saidsupport and'havingedges forslitting'said material into strips, a member opposed to said blades toreceivefthe ends of:

said blades projecting beyond the surface of the material, and means to guide the material as it fedpastsaid blades by saidafeeding;

III 6311s. f. V 6. A slittingmachine, comprising lIICOIIk bination, a -plurality of blades having sharpends forpenetrating a sheet'of material and sharp edges for slitting the material into strips, means to force. saidiends mto the'ma-:

terial, means to feed the material: relatively to said blades, and means to guide the material as it is sofed. s 7

:7! 'A slittingmachine, comprising 'in'com bination, a plurality ofblades zhavmg sharp ends for penetrating-a sheet..'of--material, a;

carrier for said :blades,.the latter havi ng' j' sharp edges betweensaid endsE'and carrier. for-slitting the-material into strlps, means ends-into the material, means to f'eedthe ma operating through said carrierytovforce; said terial-past said blades', and-means 'to guide the material. 1

8'. A. slitting machine, comprising in combination, a carrierhavlng aseries of trans verse recessestherein, a plurality .of blades having shanks seatedin said recesses,sharp ends for penetrating a sheet of material, and sharp edges projecting beyond said carrier for s eras said .itting said material lii tfi strips, mean tlit'mlgli said terrier ts endsinto the material, means to feedthe material past said blades, and means to guide the material as it is fed.

9. A slitting machine, comprising in combination, a support for a sheet ofmaterial, a plurality of blades forslitting said material intostrips, a carrier for said blades movable toward and from said support to bring the blades into and out of active position, means tofeed the material through the machine, and means to guide the material.

10. A slitting machine, comprising in combination, a support for a sheet of material, a plurality of blades for slitting said material into strips, a carrier for said blades movable toward and from .said support, means to force said blades into the material, means to guide the material toward said blades, and means to feed said material past said blades.

11. A slitting machine, comprising in combination, a support for a sheet of material, a plurality of oblique blades for slitting said material into strips having beveled edges, a carrier for said blades movable laterally to cause the blades to enter the material, means acting on the carrier to hold the blades in the material, means to feed the material past the blades, and means to guide the material as it is so fed.

12. A slitting machine, comprising in combination, a support for a sheet of material, a plurality of oblique blades for slitting said material into strips having beveled edges, a carrier for the blades, means to press the carrier downward and laterally in one direction to force the blades into the material, means automatically to lock the carrier against movement laterally in an opposite direction, means to feed the material past said blades, and means to guide the material as it is so fed.

13. A slitting machine, comprising, in combination, a support for a sheet of material, means to feed the material over said support, a plurality of blades having ends for penetrating the material and edges for slitting the material into strips, a carrier for said blades, means yieldingly to press said carrier and blades toward said support, and means to guide the material as it is fed.

14. A slitting machine, comprising in combination, a support for a sheet of material, means to feed the material over said support, a plurality of blades for slitting the material into strips, means to guide the material as it is fed, and means including a cam for forcing the blades into the material.

15. A slitting machine, comprising in combination, a support for a sheet of material, means to feed the material'over said support, leading and advance guides for an edge of 7 said sheet, the advance guide being laterally offset from the other to insure continuous engagement of said edge with said advance guide, means to press saidedge towardsaid guides, anda plurality of cutters forslitting said sheet into strips.

16. A slitting machine, comprisingincomsheet, means acting on the opposite edge of said sheet to pressthelatter against said 'roller, and a plurality of cutters for slitting the sheet into strips.

17. A slitting machine, comprising in combination, a support for a sheet of material, means to feed the material over said support, leading and advance guides, the latter being ofi'set from the former to deflect and tend to press an edge of the material against said advance guide, means to press said sheet toward said guides, and a plurality of blades located substantially in line with said advance guide for slitting the sheet into strips.

18. A slitting machine, comprising in combination, a support for a sheet of material, means to feed the material over said support, means to guide one edge of said sheet, means to guide the opposite edge of said sheet, means to press one of said guides toward the other, and a plurality of fixed blades for slitting said sheet into strips as it is fed between said guides.

19. A slitting machine, comprising in combination, a support for a sheet of material, means to feed the sheet over said support, guides for opposite edges of said sheet, a roller in advance of one of said guides for guiding one edge of said sheet, means cooperating with one of the guides to yieldingly press the same toward the other guide, and a plurality of blades for slitting the sheet into strips.

20. A slitting machine, comprising in combination, a support for a sheet of material, means to feed the sheet over said support, guides for the edges of said sheet, means to prevent buckling of the sheet between said guides, and a plurality of blades for slitting the sheet into strips.

21. A slitting machine, comprising in combination, a support for a sheet of material, means to feed the sheet over said support, guides for the edges of said sheet, spring pressed means to engage the sheet between said guides to prevent buckling of said sheet, and a plurality of blades to slit the sheet into strips.

22. A slitting machine, comprising in combination, a support for a sheet of material, means to feed the sheet over said support, guides for the edges of said sheet, a plate to engage the upper surface of said sheet between said guides, means to press said plate down on to said sheet, and a plurality of blades in advance of said plate to slit the sheet into strips.

- 5 eumjferential .gf-ooves therein, a semes of fixedblad'esebove said-roller, a carrier for 7 said blades, guidesfon the. opposite edges of said sheet, means yieldinglytq press one of snidgguidesgtow arcl; the other, aiplafieadapted to'resb onihe surface of th'e'nuainerial-10e'vtween 10 said guides, and means yieldingly toflpress names to this specifioationxc.

, QUWI'LLIAM B. ARiIQLfiJl "ARTHUR.G.'FIRYE.A:Q

o pie s 61 this peteni zfmaj beeebtejned foi five gents by addressing che Cgflflisibnn of ll atenfis,

- sv v Washington, 1). G3) 

